Highest-paying jobs in Knoxville that require a graduate degree

·Stacker

insta_photos // Shutterstock
insta_photos // Shutterstock

Earning top dollar often requires more education than an undergraduate degree. Of course, doctors, lawyers, and professors all need extra years of focused study in their respective fields, but they're not alone. Graduate degrees in industries like business, engineering, and mathematics build specialized knowledge that can fast-track one's career—and salary.

In 2024, master's degree holders earned a weekly median of $1,840, a 19% premium over undergraduate degree holders. Meanwhile, doctorates earned $2,278, and professional degree holders earned $2,363.

However, wages can vary widely by occupation. Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Knoxville that require a graduate degree in Knoxville. This includes doctorates, master's degrees, and professional degrees. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.

Beyond offering higher pay, a master's degree may also provide greater job security. The unemployment rate for a master's degree holder was 2.2% in 2024, compared to 2.5% for undergraduate degree holders. Unemployment is close to 1% among those with doctorates and professional degrees.

According to a May 2025 report from ResumeGenius, many employers believe a graduate degree showcases an employee's drive and commitment, leading to better job prospects. But that comes at a price. Between 2000 and 2020, median annual tuition and fees for graduate degree programs increased by 233%. Unsurprisingly, median cumulative grad school debt also increased, rising 47% to $50,000.

Depending on the career field, the expense may be difficult to justify. Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce found that full-time workers with graduate degrees in STEM fields earned $128,000 annually, almost twice as much as their counterparts in humanities and the arts. Meanwhile, a humanities graduate degree brought only 10% more earnings than a bachelor's degree.

Keep reading to find out how much graduate degree holders can earn in different roles.

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#50. Postsecondary teachers, all other

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1 / 50

#50. Postsecondary teachers, all other

- Median annual wage: $63,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 240 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Instructional coordinators

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2 / 50

#49. Instructional coordinators

- Median annual wage: $63,920
- Median hourly wage: $30.73
- Total employment: 550 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary

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3 / 50

#48. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $64,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

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4 / 50

#47. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $66,670
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 620 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary

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6 / 50

#45. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $69,120
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary

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7 / 50

#44. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $70,330
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. School psychologists

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8 / 50

#43. School psychologists

- Median annual wage: $72,540
- Median hourly wage: $34.87
- Total employment: 160 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Education teachers, postsecondary

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9 / 50

#42. Education teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $73,700
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Sociology teachers, postsecondary

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10 / 50

#41. Sociology teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $74,500
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#40. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary

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11 / 50

#40. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $77,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 200 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Speech-language pathologists

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12 / 50

#39. Speech-language pathologists

- Median annual wage: $78,260
- Median hourly wage: $37.63
- Total employment: 530 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Library science teachers, postsecondary

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13 / 50

#38. Library science teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $79,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Judicial law clerks

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14 / 50

#37. Judicial law clerks

- Median annual wage: $80,440
- Median hourly wage: $38.68
- Total employment: Not available

#36. Psychology teachers, postsecondary

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15 / 50

#36. Psychology teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $82,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#35. Computer science teachers, postsecondary

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16 / 50

#35. Computer science teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $84,140
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Occupational therapists

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17 / 50

#34. Occupational therapists

- Median annual wage: $84,390
- Median hourly wage: $40.57
- Total employment: 310 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary

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18 / 50

#33. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $84,990
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. History teachers, postsecondary

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19 / 50

#32. History teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $85,120
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Education administrators, postsecondary

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20 / 50

#31. Education administrators, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $85,720
- Median hourly wage: $41.21
- Total employment: 550 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#30. Statisticians

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21 / 50

#30. Statisticians

- Median annual wage: $93,000
- Median hourly wage: $44.71
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Nurse midwives

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22 / 50

#29. Nurse midwives

- Median annual wage: $96,650
- Median hourly wage: $46.47
- Total employment: 70 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Physical therapists

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23 / 50

#28. Physical therapists

- Median annual wage: $97,080
- Median hourly wage: $46.68
- Total employment: 560 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

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24 / 50

#27. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

- Median annual wage: $97,420
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 780 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary

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26 / 50

#25. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $102,590
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Political science teachers, postsecondary

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27 / 50

#24. Political science teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $104,190
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Business teachers, postsecondary

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28 / 50

#23. Business teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $104,710
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 290 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Clinical and counseling psychologists

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29 / 50

#22. Clinical and counseling psychologists

- Median annual wage: $105,630
- Median hourly wage: $50.78
- Total employment: 100 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Optometrists

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31 / 50

#20. Optometrists

- Median annual wage: $107,000
- Median hourly wage: $51.44
- Total employment: 90 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Biological science teachers, postsecondary

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32 / 50

#19. Biological science teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $107,180
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 220 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Nurse practitioners

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33 / 50

#18. Nurse practitioners

- Median annual wage: $107,320
- Median hourly wage: $51.59
- Total employment: 1,930 people (4.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers

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34 / 50

#17. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers

- Median annual wage: $115,230
- Median hourly wage: $55.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Physicists

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36 / 50

#15. Physicists

- Median annual wage: $126,690
- Median hourly wage: $60.91
- Total employment: 100 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Veterinarians

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37 / 50

#14. Veterinarians

- Median annual wage: $127,680
- Median hourly wage: $61.39
- Total employment: 210 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Dentists, general

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38 / 50

#13. Dentists, general

- Median annual wage: $128,910
- Median hourly wage: $61.98
- Total employment: 240 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Pharmacists

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39 / 50

#12. Pharmacists

- Median annual wage: $132,620
- Median hourly wage: $63.76
- Total employment: 1,030 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Engineering teachers, postsecondary

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40 / 50

#11. Engineering teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $136,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 250 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#10. Physics teachers, postsecondary

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41 / 50

#10. Physics teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $139,180
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Economics teachers, postsecondary

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42 / 50

#9. Economics teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $140,180
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Pediatricians, general

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43 / 50

#8. Pediatricians, general

- Median annual wage: $159,180
- Median hourly wage: $76.53
- Total employment: Not available

#7. Law teachers, postsecondary

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44 / 50

#7. Law teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $171,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Nurse anesthetists

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46 / 50

#5. Nurse anesthetists

- Median annual wage: $210,580
- Median hourly wage: $101.24
- Total employment: 480 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Physicians, all other (tie)

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47 / 50

#1. Physicians, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 480 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)

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48 / 50

#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 550 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)

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49 / 50

#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)

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50 / 50

#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 140 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.

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